Forget splashing out on pricey lattes, students at the University of Surrey will soon be able to tuck into a fry up for under a fiver and nab a burger with a drink for less than £10
Move over, overpriced campus coffees, university students are about to get a taste of proper pub grub without breaking the bank. Students and staff at the University of Surrey will be able to order breakfast from £4.99 and a burger with a drink for under £10 when the UK’s first university-owned Wetherspoon franchise opens at its Stag Hill campus this spring.
The brand-new Sir Ronald Wates pub will open in May 2026. The boozer, which will be located at the refurbished Wates House building, will offer Wetherspoon’s full all-day menu, with mobile app ordering and table service.
While student unions at Hull and Newcastle run Wetherspoon pubs, Surrey will be the first UK university to own and operate a franchise under this model.
The partnership gives the University access to Wetherspoon’s supply chain and operational systems whilst maintaining full control of staffing, licensing and premises management. Will Davies, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Surrey, said: “We wanted to give our community a pub-style venue that could offer genuine value for money alongside quality.
“Wetherspoon’s model means students can get a full breakfast for less than five pounds. The Wetherspoon franchise gives us their pricing power and supply chain efficiency whilst allowing us to offer a great experience for our students and staff.”
The venue takes its name from Sir Ronald Wates, whose family funded the original building. The Wates family gave permission for the pub to carry his name, continuing their long association with the University.
The pub will be open to students, staff, visitors and the local community, adding to Surrey’s existing campus food outlets, including Hillside Food Court and The Hideout. John Hutson, Wetherspoon chief executive, said: “We are delighted that a Wetherspoon pub is to open at the University of Surrey.
“We are confident that it will prove popular with students as well as members of the public and be a great addition for the university.” The existing Wates House bar closed in December 2025 for refurbishment.
Staff working in the venue have been retained and will receive full training on Wetherspoon’s operational procedures ahead of the opening. Many UK universities are home to on-campus pubs or dedicated student bars, often managed by the Students’ Union or the university itself.
These venues have become a staple of student life, offering affordable food and drink, a place to socialise, and often a bit of local character. Among the best known is Old Bar at the University of Leeds, a traditional pub that has been serving real ale and pub food since 1939.
The University of Sheffield boasts the University Arms, another classic real-ale pub located right on campus. Over in Liverpool, the Augustus John, fondly referred to as “the AJ”, is an award-winning, CAMRA-listed real ale house situated on University Square.
The University of Reading’s Park House is a traditional-style pub set in the heart of the Whiteknights Campus, while the University of Greenwich offers Lower Deck, a basement bar and event space within the historic Dreadnought Building. King’s College London is home to Guy’s Bar, established in 1882 and one of the oldest student bars in the country.
University College London (UCL) features several on-campus bars, including The Huntley, Phineas, Mully’s, and the postgraduate-focused Institute Bar. Lancaster University, known for its collegiate system, has a range of college-affiliated bars such as The Mill (a sports bar), Barkers (a renovated farmhouse), Trevor Bar, and Grizedale Bar, which is known for its cocktails.
At the University of Kent, students can enjoy K Bar in Keynes College and Mungo’s in Eliot College. The University of Lincoln features The Swan, a pub with a picturesque waterside view located directly on campus.
Cardiff University’s Students’ Union houses The Taf, the local student pub, while Loughborough University includes JC’s, a popular venue for food, drinks, and live sport.
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